masterman ready-第34章

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〃Yes；〃　replied　William；　〃they　will　soon　be　in　smoother　water；　but　the　surf　on　the　beach　is　very　heavy。〃

〃They　won't　mind　that；　if　their　strength　don't　fail　them　…　they　manage　the　canoe　beautifully。〃

During　this　conversation　the　canoe　had　rapidly　come　towards　the　land。　In　a　moment　or　two　afterwards；　it　passed　through　the　surf　and　grounded　on　the　beach。　The　two　people　in　it　had　just　strength　enough　left　to　paddle　through　the　surf；　and　then　they　dropped　down　in　the　bottom　of　the　canoe；　quite　exhausted。

〃Let's　drag　the　canoe　higher　up；　William。　Poor　creatures！　they　are　nearly　dead。〃

While　dragging　it　up；　Ready　observed　that　the　occupants　were　both　women：　their　faces　were　tattooed　all　over；　otherwise　they　were　young；　and　might　have　been　good…looking。

〃Shall　I　run　up　and　get　something　for　them；　Ready？〃

〃Do；　William；　ask　Juno　to　give　you　some　of　whatever　there　is　for　breakfast；　anything　warm。〃

William　soon　returned　with　some　thin　oatmeal　porridge；　which　Juno　had　been　preparing　for　breakfast；　and　a　few　spoonfuls　being　forced　down　the　throats　of　the　two　natives　they　gradually　revived。　William　then　left　Ready；　and　went　up　to　acquaint　his　father　and　mother　with　this　unexpected　event。

William　soon　returned　with　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　as　the　women　were　now　able　to　sit　up；　they　hauled　up　the　canoe　as　far　as　they　could；　to　prevent　her　being　beat　to　pieces。　They　found　nothing　in　the　canoe；　except　a　piece　of　matting　and　the　two　paddles　which　had　been　used　by　the　natives。

〃You　see；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃it　is　very　clear　that　these　two　poor　women；　having　been　left　in　charge　of　the　canoe；　have　been　blown　off　from　the　shore　of　one　of　the　islands　to　the　south…east；　they　must　have　been　contending　with　the　gale　ever　since　the　day　before　yesterday；　and；　as　it　appears；　without　food　or　water。　It's　a　mercy　that　they　gained　this　island。〃

〃It　is　so；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃but　to　tell　the　truth；　I　am　not　over　pleased　at　their　arrival。　It　proves　what　we　were　not　sure　of　before；　that　we　have　very　near　neighbours；　who　may　probably　pay　us　a　very　unwelcome　visit。〃

〃That　may　be；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃still　these　two　poor　creatures　being　thrown　on　shore　here　does　not　make　the　matter　worse；　or　the　danger　greater。　Perhaps　it　may　turn　to　our　advantage；　for　if　these　women　learn　to　speak　English　before　any　other　islanders　visit　us；　they　will　interpret　for　us；　and　be　the　means；　perhaps；　of　saving　our　lives。〃

〃Would　their　visit　be　so　dangerous；　then；　Ready？〃

〃Why；　sir；　a　savage　is　a　savage；　and；　like　a　child；　wishes　to　obtain　whatever　he　sees；　especially　he　covets　what　he　may　turn　to　use；　such　as　iron；　&c。　If　they　came；　and　we　concealed　a　portion；　and　gave　up　the　remainder　of　our　goods；　we　might　escape；　but　still　there　is　no　trusting　to　them；　and　I　would　infinitely　prefer　defending　ourselves　against　numbers　to　trusting　to　their　mercy。〃

〃But　how　can　we　defend　ourselves　against　a　multitude？〃

〃We　must　be　prepared；　sir：　if　we　can　fortify　ourselves；　with　our　muskets　we　would　be　more　than　a　match　for　hundreds。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　turned　away。　After　a　pause　he　said；　〃It　is　not　very　pleasant　to　be　now　talking　of　defending　ourselves　against　savages；　when　we　hoped　two　days　ago　to　be　leaving　the　island。　Oh；　that　that　brig　would　make　its　appearance　again！〃

〃The　wind　is　going　down　fast；　sir；〃　observed　Ready；　〃it　will　be　fine　weather　before　the　evening。　We　may　look　out　for　her；　at　all　events；　for　the　next　week　I　shall　not　give　up　all　hopes。〃

〃A　whole　week；　Ready！　Alas！　how　true　it　is；　that　hope　deferred　maketh　the　heart　sick。〃

〃It　is　a　severe　trial；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　we　must　submit　when　we　are　chastened。　We　had　better　get　these　poor　creatures　up　to　the　house；　and　let　them　recover　themselves。〃

Ready　then　beckoned　to　them　to　get　on　their　feet；　which　they　both　did；　although　with　some　difficulty。　He　then　went　in　advance；　making　a　sign　for　them　to　follow；　they　understood　him；　and　made　the　attempt；　but　were　so　weak；　that　they　would　have　fallen　if　they　had　not　been　supported　by　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William。

It　required　a　long　time　for　them　to　arrive　at　the　house。　Mrs。　Seagrave；　who　knew　what　had　happened；　received　them　very　kindly；　and　Juno　had　a　mess　ready；　which　she　put　before　them。　They　ate　a　little　and　then　lay　down；　and　were　soon　sound　asleep。

〃It　is　fortunate　for　us　that　they　are　women；〃　observed　Mr。　Seagrave：　〃we　should　have　had　great　difficulty　had　they　been　men。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃but　still　we　must　not　trust　women　too　much　at　first；　for　they　are　savages。〃

〃Where　shall　we　put　them　to…night；　Ready？〃

〃Why；　sir；　I　have　been　thinking　about　that。　I　wish　we　had　a　shed　close　to　us；　but　as　we　have　not；　we　must　let　them　sleep　in　the　storehouse。〃

We　must　now　pass　over　a　space　of　fifteen　days；　in　which　there　was　nothing　done。　The　expectation　of　the　vessel　returning　was　still　alive；　although　each　day　decreased　these　hopes。　Every　morning　Ready　and　William　were　at　the　beach　with　the　telescope；　and　the　whole　of　the　day　was　passed　in　surmises；　hopes；　and　fears。　In　fact；　the　appearance　of　the　vessel　and　the　expectation　of　leaving　the　island　had　completely　overturned　all　the　regularity　and　content　of　our　island　party。　No　other　subject　was　broached　…　not　any　of　the　work　proposed　was　begun；　as　it　was　useless　to　do　anything　if　they　were　to　leave　the　island。　After　the　first　week　had　passed；　they　felt　that　every　day　their　chances　were　more　adverse；　and　at　the　end　of　the　fortnight　all　hopes　were　very　unwillingly　abandoned。

The　Indian　women　had；　in　the　meantime；　recovered　their　fatigues；　and　appeared　to　be　very　mild　and　tractable。　Whatever　they　were　able　to　do；　they　did　cheerfully；　and　had　already　gained　a　few　words　of　English。　The　party　to　explore　was　again　talked　over；　and　arranged　for　the　following　Monday；　when　a　new　misfortune　fell　on　them；　which　disconcerted　all　their　arrangements。

On　the　Saturday　morning；　when　Ready；　as　usual；　went　his　rounds；　as　he　walked　along　the　beach；　he　perceived　that　the　Indian　canoe　was　missing。　It　had　been　hauled　up　clear　of　the　water；　so　that　it　could　not　have　floated　away。　Ready's　heart　misgave　him；　he　looked　through　his　telescope　in　the　direction　of　the　large　island；　and　thought　he　could　distinguish　a　speck　on　the　water　at　a　great　distance。　As　he　was　thus　occupied；　William　came　down　to　him。

〃William；〃　said　Ready；　〃I　fear　those　island　women　have　escaped　in　their　canoe。　Run　up；　and　see　if　they　are　in　the　outhouse；　or　anywhere　else；　and　let　me　know　as　soon　as　you　can。〃

William　in　a　few　minutes　returned；　breathless；　stating　that　the　women　were　not　to　be　found；　and　that　they　had　evidently　carried　away　with　them　a　quantity　of　the　large　nails　and　other　pieces　of　iron　which　were　in　the　small　kegs　in　the　storehouse。

〃This　is　bad；　William；　this　is　worse　than　the　vessel　not　coming　back。〃

〃Why；　we　can　do　without　them；　Ready。〃

〃Yes；　but　when　they　get　back　to　their　own　people；　and　show　them　the　iron　they　have　brought　with　them；　and　describe　how　much　more　there　is　to　be　had；　depend　upon　it；　we　shall　have　a　visit　from　them　in　numbers；　that　they　may　obtain　more。　I　ought　to　have　known　better　than　to　leave　the　canoe　here。　We　must　go　and　consult　with　Mr。　Seagrave；　for　the　sooner　we　begin　to　work　now；　the　better。〃

They　communicated　the　intelligence　to　Mr。　Seagrave　when　they　were　outside。　He　at　once　perceived　their　danger；　so　they　held　a　council；　and　came　to　the　following　resolutions：

That　it　would　be　necessary　that　they　should　immediately　stockade　the　storehouse；　so　as　to　render　it　impossible　for　any　one　to　get　in；　and　that；　as　soon　as　the　fortification　was　complete；　the　storehouse　should　be　turned　into　their　dwelling…house；　and　such　stores　as　could　not　be　put　within　the　stockade　should　be　removed　to　their　present　house；　or　concealed　in　the　cocoa…nut　grove。

It　was　decided　that　nothing　should　be　begun　on　that　day；　Saturday；　that　Sunday　should　be　spent　in　devout　prayer　for　help　and　encouragement　from　the　Almighty；　who　would　do　towards　them　as　his　wisdom　should　ordain；　and　that　on　Monday；　with　the　blessing　of　God；　they　would　recommence　their　labour。

〃I　don't　know　why；　but　I　feel　more　courage　now　that　there　is　a　prospect　of　danger；　than　I　felt　when　there　was　little　or　none；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃How　little　do　we　know　what　the　day　may　bring　forth！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃How　joyful　were　our　anticipations　when　the　vessel　hoisted　her　colours！　we　felt　sure　that　we　were　to　be　taken　off　the　island。　The　same　gale　that　drove　the　vessel　away　brought　down　to　us　the　island　women。　The　fair　weather　after　the　gale；　which　we　hoped　would　have　brought　back　the　vessel　to　our　succour；　on　the　contrary　enabled　the　women　to　escape　in　the　canoe；　and　make　known　our　existence　to　those　who　may　come　to　destroy　us。　How　true　it　is　that　man　plans　in　vain；　and　that　it　is　only　by　the　Almighty　will　and　pleasure　that　he　can　obtain　his　ends！〃



Chapter　XLV

But　although　they　resolved　as　stated　in　the　last　chapter；　nothing　was　done。　Finally；　one　morning　at　sunrise；　as　they　were　looking　round　with　the　telescope；　close　to　the　turtle…pond；　Masterman　Ready　said　to　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃Indeed；　sir；　we　must　no　longer　remain　in　this　state　of　idleness；　I　have　been　thinking　a　great　deal　of　our　present　position　and　prospects；　as　to　the　vessel　coming　back；　we　must；　at　present；　give　up　all　hopes　of　it。　I　only　wish　that　we　were　quite　as　sure　that　we　shall　not　have　a　visit　from　the　savages：　that　is　my　great　fear；　and　it　really　haunts　me；　the　idea　of　our　being　surprised　some　night；　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　the　dear　children；　perhaps；　murdered　in　their　beds；　is　awful　to　reflect　upon。〃

〃God　help　us！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Seagrave；　covering　up　his　face。

〃God　will　help　us；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　at　the　same　time　it　is　necessary　that　we　should　help　ourselves；　he　will　give　his　blessing　to　our　exertions；　but　we　cannot　expect　that　miracles　will　be　performed　for　us；　and　if　we　remain　as　we　now　are；　inactive；　and　taking　no　steps　to　meet　the　danger　which　threatens　us；　we　cannot　expect　the　divine　assistance。　We　have　had　a　heavy　shock；　but　it　is　now　time　that　we　recover　from　it；　and　put　our　own　shoulders　to　the　wheel。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　Ready；〃　replied　William；　〃indeed　I　have　been　thinking　the　same　thing　for　many　days　past。〃

〃We　have　all　been　thinking　of　it；　I　believe；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃I'm　sure　I　have　lain　awake　night　after　night；　considering　our　position　and　what　we　ought　to　do；　but　I　have　never　been　able　to　come　to　any　satisfactory　resolution。〃

〃No　more　have　I　till　last　night；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　I　think　that　I　have　now　something　to　propose　which；　perhaps；　will　meet　with　your　approval；〃　replied　Ready；　〃so　now；　sir；　suppose　we　hold　another　council；　and　come　to　a　decision。〃

〃I　am　most　willing；　Ready；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　sitting　down　upon　a　rock；　〃and　as　you　are　the　oldest；　and　moreover　the　best　adviser　of　the　three；　we　will　first　hear　what　you　have　to　propose。〃

〃Well　then；　Mr。　Seagrave；　it　appears　to　me　that　it　will　not　do　to　remain　in　the　house；　for　we　may；　as　I　have　said；　be　surprised　by　the　savages　at　any　hour　in　the　night；　and　we　have　no　means　of　defence　against　numbers。〃

〃I　feel　that；　and　have　felt　it　for　some　time；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃What　shall　we　do；　then；　shall　we　return　to　the　cove？〃

〃I　should　think　not；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃what　I　propose　is　this